Bush praises Catholic Charities’ work in helping immigrants

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June 2006

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Bush praises Catholic Charities’
work in helping immigrants
Omaha, NE— President George W. Bush today spotlighted the important work being done by Catholic Charities in helping immigrants assimilate in the United States, touring classes at Catholic Charities of Omaha’s Juan Diego Center, which provides a wide range of services to newcomers.

The Center, which was established in the early 1990s, offers programs designed to help Spanish speakers thrive in their community. The Center’s bilingual staff provides classes including English, job preparedness, assimilation assistance, citizenship, health and other family services.

Catholic Charities of Omaha’s Juan Diego Center is just one of dozens of Catholic Charities programs that serve newcomers to the United States. Catholic Charities agencies across the country served nearly half a million immigrants and refugees in 2004, offering such services as citizenship classes, counseling and other social services, legalization assistance and legal aid, language instruction, and employment services.

President Bush met with several Catholic Charities representatives and clients at the Juan Diego Center Wednesday morning. The President participated in a citizenship class and a networking breakfast for immigrants who have graduated from Catholic Charities’ microbusiness training program and have started their own small businesses.

“I saw a place where people are learning to speak English, and learning the civic lessons of what it means to be an American citizen. I sat around a table with entrepreneurs, people from different countries, all of whom are bound by a common dream of owning their own business; people who are willing to work hard to put food on the table for their families and to realize a dream. It was such an inspiring conversation for me,” said President Bush following his visit to Catholic Charities in a speech at Omaha’s Metropolitan Community College.

The president met with several Catholic Charities’ clients, including, Salvador Pi a, who received a $10,000 loan to help him start his own auto body business. “He's a new American citizen who had a dream; he wanted to own his own business. And Salvador went to the Juan Diego Center, and said, can anybody here help me? For some of us, we take it for granted that it's easy to understand what forms to fill out, or what worker compensation means, or how do you pay your sales tax. But for some, they need a little extra help. They don't need to be inspired to dream big dreams, but they need help to realize those dreams,” said President Bush.

“When you hear people like me talk about assimilation, that's what we're talking about, helping people assimilate into America, helping us remain one nation under God. So I want to thank Catholic Charities for their good work, and I want to thank a dreamer like Salvador for coming here, obeying the law, and working hard to achieve the American Dream,” said President Bush.

The Need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
President Bush visited Omaha today as part of his efforts to promote the need for Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

In meeting with President Bush today, Scot Adams, executive director of Catholic Charities of Omaha, thanked the President for his leadership in pushing for comprehensive immigration reform that protects our nation's security and protects the dignity of newcomers to our nation.

"An enforcement-only bill that focuses solely on building barriers at our borders is the wrong approach. Catholic Charities agencies nationwide agree with President Bush that enforcement and security should be part of the legislation, but not the only part," said Adams. "Any legislation that comes out of Congress must also put undocumented workers and their families on a path to lawful permanent residence and citizenship, create greater legal avenues for necessary workers to enter the United States, and integrate and promote the success of newcomers."

Catholic Charities USA agrees with the president that a comprehensive measure, which provides fair and just reforms while protecting our nation’s security, is the right solution to the nation’s broken immigration system.

“We are pleased to see President Bush put the power of the presidency behind the need for comprehensive reforms of our nation’s immigration laws,” said Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA. “We need comprehensive reform that protects U.S. security, puts undocumented laborers and their families on the path to lawful permanent residence and citizenship, and creates greater legal avenues for necessary workers to enter this country.”

Over the past months, Catholic Charities agencies, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Justice for Immigrants Campaign, and grassroots efforts nationwide mobilized hundreds and thousands of people to speak out for fair and just immigration reform. As the House and Senate work to reconcile the differences in the immigration legislation, Catholic Charities USA will continue to press Congress to enact comprehensive reform that:

provides a path to lawful permanent residence and citizenship for the 11 million to 12 million undocumented persons in the United States,
sustains and reunites families,
promotes the security of the nation,
creates greater legal avenues for necessary workers to enter the United States in the future,
integrates and promote the success of newcomers, and
improves the economic prospects, health, labor protections, and stability of all U.S. residents, including newcomers.

Immigrants like Ignacio Chavez, who owns El Alamo restaurant in south Omaha, had the opportunity to talk with the President about their businesses, struggles and triumphs and the need for immigration reform. The group of immigrant business owners urged the President to push for policies that keep families together, not break them apart.

"The clients of Catholic Charities had the chance to be spokespeople for a nation of immigrants today," said Adams. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and we are grateful to the President for giving Catholic Charities and the people we serve this opportunity."

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